As a die-hard fan of Saturday Night Live (SNL), I can confidently say that the show would have struggled to find its footing without the legendary Eddie Murphy. His unparalleled comedic timing, impeccable impressions, and timeless characters like Mr. Robinson and Gumby have kept audiences rolling with laughter for decades. It’s as if we’re not watching Eddie Murphy; instead, we’re witnessing Stevie Wonder, James Brown, or Bill Cosby come to life right before our eyes.
Way back in 1975, when Saturday Night first hit the airwaves as NBC’s Saturday Night, it was hard to imagine just how impactful this sketch series would become. From Hollywood heavyweights to late-night talk show hosts, countless stars have emerged from its five decades on television. This iconic show has left an indelible mark on American culture and politics, with its influence often recognized: it’s even been credited for swaying presidential elections with its biting satire each week.
Over the course of 50 seasons, “SNL” has given a platform to some of America’s most talented and beloved comic minds. Putting together a list of the very best of them is no easy task, and ranking the greats from best to worst is even trickier. However, we think we’ve cracked the formula for ranking “Saturday Night Live” stars: These fifteen cast members aren’t just ranked based on how funny they are, but also on their versatility and the impact they had on the show itself during their time on it. From worst to best, here are the greatest cast members in “SNL” history.
15. Amy Poehler
On “Saturday Night Live,” Amy Poehler truly shone among stars like Tracy Morgan, Ana Gasteyer, and Rachel Dratch. She entered the show in 2001 and swiftly became an irreplaceable part of a talented cast. Despite the high standards, it took only five and half months for the Upright Citizens Brigade co-founder to be promoted to a Repertory Player. A few years down the line, she teamed up with Tina Fey on the first all-female Weekend Update desk, a position she kept until December 2008.
Amy Poehler’s screen performances are self-explanatory, showcasing her impressive impersonations like Hillary Clinton and the rapid-fire “Bronx Beat” co-host. Notable sketches include “Colonel Angus Comes Home” and the unforgettable “Sarah Palin Rap.” However, Poehler’s most significant impact on the show was behind the scenes. As Seth Meyers, a former SNL cast member, stated to The Hollywood Reporter: “Amy actively worked to create a positive work environment, not just for those who work there, but for everyone spending a week at SNL.
14. Maya Rudolph
Back in the year 2000, I became part of the star-studded cast of “Saturday Night Live,” bringing my years of experience from The Groundlings troupe into the iconic Studio 8H. In an era teeming with incredibly talented women on the show, I managed to carve out a unique niche by showcasing my exceptional musical skills, making me one of the most musically gifted cast members in “SNL” history. This talent was beautifully showcased in “National Anthem,” where I delivered an unforgettable performance as an overenthusiastic contest winner belting out the national anthem at a baseball game. My impressions, particularly my portrayal of Oprah Winfrey, also solidified my status as a comedic powerhouse. However, it’s my impression of Kamala Harris that I think will be most remembered, as it played a significant role in my return to “SNL.
Initially, Rudolph performed the role of Harris during her tenure as a senator, achieving remarkable results. As the Democrat rose through the political ranks, it became necessary for Rudolph to return to 30 Rockefeller Plaza due to the upcoming show’s 50th season, which aligns with the 2024 presidential election. At that point in time, Rudolph resided outside of New York, yet choosing to reprise her role as Harris was effortless. According to Variety, Rudolph expressed enthusiasm about being part of this significant endeavor, stating, “This is much more than just me, and it’s about something truly meaningful.” She added, “I am delighted to be connected with it, and I’m also grateful that I portrayed her, and everyone seems to be okay with it. She appreciates it.
13. Dan Aykroyd
Back in the early days of Saturday Night Live, I was one of the original players on the team, and I helped shape the unique spirit that still defines this iconic show today. I became known for some unforgettable characters like Irwin Mainway, the shady toy tycoon, and many will recall me co-hosting Weekend Update with Jane Curtin. But maybe my most enduring contribution to SNL was my partnership with another Not-Ready-For-Primetime-Player, John Belushi.
In the initial phases of the series, the pair emerged as the leading comedy duo, largely due to their outstanding portrayal of the Blues Brothers. John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd were the stars of the first feature film inspired by an “SNL” skit (“The Blues Brothers,” 1980). Although Belushi was a remarkable comedic force individually, it was Aykroyd’s writing talent and his strong relationships with the team, including the crew, that made him one of the show’s most impactful voices during those years.
12. Cecily Strong
Cecily Strong may go down in history as one of the most under-appreciated “Saturday Night Live” cast members. There was obviously no shortage of her throughout her decade-long run on the show, including her unforgettable Weekend Update characters like Cathy Anne or The Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started a Conversation With a Party. Even her political impressions, like her Melania Trump, were well received — in fact, Melania apparently liked it. However, it was Strong’s heart that really made her an irreplaceable part of “SNL” history.
A striking illustration of this is Goober the Clown, a surprisingly poignant sketch on Weekend Update that saw Strong discuss U.S. abortion bans while in clown attire, stating, “I wouldn’t be a clown on TV today if it weren’t for the abortion I had on my 23rd birthday.” Austin Butler, one of Saturday Night Live’s exceptional first-time hosts, aptly captured the mood during Strong’s farewell episode when he sang about how much bluer everything feels without her.
11. Kenan Thompson
Kenan Thompson might have decided to depart from Saturday Night Live a decade back, but his place on this list would still be secure. However, since he chose to stay, he has become the longest-serving cast member in the show’s history, having joined in 2003 and continuing to shine till now. Before he arrived at 30 Rock, Kenan had already built a strong comedy foundation through Nickelodeon’s “All That.” By the time we saw him on SNL, he was well-versed in performing, evident in sketches like “What’s Up With That?
Over the years, I’ve found myself becoming a versatile and essential piece of this Saturday Night Live puzzle. From leading sketches to playing the straight man, delivering sarcastic quips as a game show host, or even just dropping a witty one-liner, I’ve managed to fit into various roles seamlessly. Consider “Diner Lobster” where I transformed into a crustacean Jean Valjean, or “Black Jeopardy,” where I hosted the game show that always threw off its white contestants. Even my Weekend Update characters consistently add depth to any SNL episode. Despite the pressure that comes with being on this legendary show, I’ve shown no signs of letting up.
10. Will Ferrell
When Will Ferrell joined “Saturday Night Live” in 1995, the show was facing challenges after most of its cast had left earlier that year. However, from the late ’90s until the early 2000s, it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that Ferrell was the show’s most prominent figure. During his time on the program, he received a considerable amount of screen time due to his popular portrayal of U.S. president George W. Bush, which garnered wide acclaim.
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9. Kate McKinnon
During her tenure on “Saturday Night Live” from 2012 to 2022, Kate McKinnon proved to be an unforgettable figure. She stood out particularly during the Trump administration with her wide range of political impersonations, which included notable figures like Kellyanne Conway, Robert Mueller, Lindsey Graham, and Rudy Giuliani. In any sketch she starred in, she had an extraordinary knack for captivating audiences, earning comparisons to Will Ferrell for her talent at making her fellow cast members crack up.
One way to rephrase the given text in a more natural and easy-to-read manner could be: McKinnon’s most notable contribution to “SNL” will undoubtedly be the vibrant characters she created for the series, such as Colleen Rafferty from “Close Encounter” sketches and Sheila Sovage from “Last Call.” The audience was reminded of her exceptional talent when she returned as host for the Christmas special in December 2023. During an interview on “Late Night With Seth Meyers,” McKinnon expressed her long-held dream of being on the show, with the even more extraordinary ambition of hosting it – a feat that seemed almost surreal to her.
8. Bill Hader
Bill Hader, who initially didn’t harbor any significant ambitions for joining “Saturday Night Live,” turned out to be a boon to the show’s ensemble. In a blink of an eye, he earned recognition with his diverse collection of celebrity impersonations such as Al Pacino, James Carville, and Vincent Price. His fellow performers could sense stardom blooming, as Andy Samberg expressed to Grantland, “The first episode, when he did Pacino, the crowd went absolutely wild.” Samberg further noted, “I thought to myself, ‘This guy is going to dominate.’
Yet, it was when he teamed up with writers such as John Mulaney and Simon Rich, or actors like Kristen Wiig and Fred Armisen, that Hader truly shone. Roles like Stefon and Herb Welch gained popularity among “SNL” viewers. Beyond character performances, sketches like “Short Term Memory Loss Theater” and “Puppet Class” demonstrated Hader’s knack for witty writing and a strong supporting cast. It’s intriguing to discover that Hader had such a positive experience during his “SNL” tenure, given how few cast members have enjoyed such harmonious relationships with their colleagues.
7. Andy Samberg
The path taken by The Lonely Island from Berkeley, California to online fame was unusual yet paved the way for a significant change in “Saturday Night Live” as the sketch series transitioned into the contemporary era. In 2005, Andy Samberg joined SNL, introducing two vital writer-directors, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone. As a team, they started creating self-produced videos that were broadcast as “SNL Digital Shorts.” It didn’t take long before these filmed sketches became a regular feature of the show.
Although Samberg wasn’t typically standout in live skits (with exceptions such as “Blizzard Man” and “The New Boyfriend Talk Show”), he became the embodiment of Digital Shorts. Pieces like “Lazy Sunday,” “D*** in a Box,” and “Natalie’s Rap” were pioneering viral videos during YouTube’s early days, while skits such as “Laser Cats” and “Dear Sister” paved the way for the series to adopt an online-oriented humor. Samberg significantly contributed to the evolution of Saturday Night Live.
6. Norm Macdonald
What’s there to say about Norm Macdonald that hasn’t already been said? The stand-up comedian was never known as a sketch savant during his years as a cast member in the mid-90s, but he’s regarded as one of the best “SNL” Weekend Update anchors in the show’s history. Part of that is due to Macdonald’s trademark dry humor; snarky to the point that he ran the risk of alienating audiences. But he had his style and he stuck to it relentlessly. In fact, his jokes during the O.J. Simpson trial are what resulted in his firing in 1998.
As a huge fan looking back, Norm Macdonald’s passing in 2021 left a profound impact. His remarkable tenure at the Weekend Update desk has since been appreciated more deeply by many, including current anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che. In fact, there’s an account called “Norm Macdonald Joke of the Day” that shares his funniest Weekend Update moments. Rare as they were, when Macdonald appeared in a live sketch, like playing an exasperated gang leader in “Cobras & Panthers” or impersonating Burt Reynolds for “Celebrity Jeopardy,” those scenes became the standout highlights of each episode for me.
5. Tina Fey
Tina Fey has significantly influenced “Saturday Night Live,” both on-screen and off. Before officially joining the cast in 2000, she held the role of the first female head writer. Alongside Jimmy Fallon, she co-anchored Weekend Update. However, her talents extended beyond co-hosting, as she demonstrated with skits like “The Bush Twins’ Secret Language” and “Nerd Chat Line.” Her impression of Sarah Palin, which she performed in guest appearances after leaving the main cast in 2006, is a role she is frequently remembered for.
Behind the scenes at “SNL”, Tina Fey (who honed her skills at The Second City) emerged as a pivotal figure, confessing to Variety that she felt instinctively capable when she stepped into the role of head writer. She explained that instead of reworking other people’s sketches, she aimed to collaborate, helping creators refine their ideas to achieve the best possible outcome. Fey is frequently recognized for her role in turning “SNL” from a male-dominated platform into a launching pad for female comedians, and Lorne Michaels himself has even suggested her as a potential future leader of the show.
4. Phil Hartman
During his tenure on “Saturday Night Live,” Phil Hartman was affectionately dubbed “The Glue” by his fellow cast members, according to Julia Sweeney in an interview with Grantland. Sweeney stated that people like Hartman made the environment feel secure, allowing others to be more eccentric. They were the anchors; it wouldn’t veer too far off course if Hartman was part of a sketch. Hartman not only held the show together but also brought out the best in his co-stars through his selfless approach. However, what truly set Hartman apart as a renowned comedian was his knack for being a little unconventional himself, as demonstrated by memorable sketches such as “Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer.
Apart from his eccentric characters, Hartman significantly enriched the show with some pivotal political impersonations, such as Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. One of the most acclaimed political sketches in “SND’s” history is “President Bill Clinton at McDonald’s,” which Rolling Stone ranked among the top five. In this sketch, Hartman brilliantly embodied one of SNL’s all-time greatest Presidential impressions, capturing Bill Clinton’s charm, culinary preferences, and political acumen in a single performance. Tragically, Hartman made his final appearance on “SNL” in 1994, and he passed away in 1998, at the zenith of his abilities.
3. Eddie Murphy
Reflecting on the legendary run of Eddie Murphy on “Saturday Night Live,” it’s hard to believe that this comedic genius was just 19 years old when he joined the cast in 1980. Unlike many other cast members, Eddie wasn’t discovered by Lorne Michaels, but he certainly ruled the show during the early ’80s. Simultaneously, he was carving out a successful film career with memorable roles in “48 Hrs” and “Beverly Hills Cop.” His stardom is often credited for saving the show from the brink of cancellation, as writer David Sheffield claims (via The Ringer) that it “wouldn’t have lasted without Eddie.
Murphy’s best characters, like Mr. Robinson and Gumby, are still as hilarious now as they were in back 1980s, and Murphy’s impressions of celebrities like Stevie Wonder, James Brown, and Bill Cosby make you forget you’re watching Eddie Murphy, they’re that good. Even the pre-taped sketch “White Like Me” feels like a flash-forward to the show’s Digital Shorts future. Murphy’s legendary “SNL” status was on full display when he returned to host in 2019, with his reprisal of Buckwheat in the sketch “Masked Singer” being met enthusiastically by cast and audiences members alike.
2. Chris Farley
It might sound like an overstatement to say that the world of comedy hasn’t seen the likes of Chris Farley since his passing, but it’s true. Farley was a master of physical comedy, which was frequently on display in sketches like “Van Down By the River” and even on Weekend Update pieces as the self-loathing Bennett Brauer. Farley was made of special stuff, and the cast at the time knew it. During an appearance on “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” Adam Sandler said: “If you wrote Farley into a skit, you knew it was probably gonna get on,” when discussing the origin of the duo’s “Herlihy Boy” sketch.
In several standout scenes of Sandler’s show, Farley played a significant role, but it was clear that Farley could shine brilliantly even without support from his co-stars. This can be seen in sketches like “Schiller Visions: Hidden Camera Commercials.” One of the most surprising and memorable skits featuring Farley on “SNL” was “The Chris Farley Show,” a talk show where the usually boisterous comedian would awkwardly fumble through interviews with famous guests. There are far too many iconic Farley sketches to list here, which underscores his immense contribution to the show. Tragically, Farley passed away in December 1997, at a time when his career was soaring.
1. Gilda Radner
Longtime supporters of “Saturday Night Live” often agree that Gilda Radner was the finest performer the show has ever seen. As the first cast member on the show, she paved the way for other successful actors on “SNL.” Lorne Michaels honored Radner in her obituary in The New York Times, stating, “She possessed a remarkable quality, a goodness that shone through everything she did.” Numerous comedians have pointed to Radner as a significant influence on their comedy development, particularly women, who had limited role models in the entertainment industry during her time.
In essence, Radner’s most notable talent lay in captivating her audience, regardless of whether she portrayed endearing or irritating characters such as Roseanne Roseannadanna and Emily Litella. The skit “Baba Wawa at Large” vividly showcases her knack for immersing herself fully into a character, while “Rock Against Yeast” highlights her versatility as an actress. It’s a pity that Radner is among the late SNL performers, for if she were still alive today, she would undoubtedly be delighted by how far SNL has progressed due to the dedication of early contributors like herself.
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2024-09-30 19:30